Salahaddin University-Erbil

College of Engineering
Department of Geomatics (Surveying)

Basic Surveying Instruments

Practical lecture #15

OFFSET MEASUREMENT
This is particularly useful when it’s difficult to place the reflector directly at a point due to an object or an
obstacle standing in the way.

1. Angle Offset (by Total Station instrument):

This mode is useful when it is difficult to set a prism directly, e. g. at the center of a tree.

Equipment/Tools required:
 Total Station Instrument (Topcon GTS230N series in our case)
 Reflector (Prism mounted on graduated pole)

Procedure:
1. Place the prism at the same horizontal distance from the instrument as that of offset point
A0.
2. Set the instrument height/prism height before proceeding to the offset measurement
mode.
3. To enter angle offset measurement mode, on the distance/coordinate measuring mode
select offset measuring and choose angle offset subsequently.
4. Collimate prism at point P (refer to the figure below) and measure. The horizontal
distance to the prism will be measured.
5. After measuring, the resultant added offset value will be shown. Collimate to the point
A0. The instrument will show relative elevation, slope/horizontal distance as you keep
pressing the distance measuring mode key and the three coordinates (N, E & Z) of point
A0 or A1 as you keep pressing coordinate measuring mode key.

When measuring coordinates of ground point

A1, set the instrument height/prism height.

When measuring coordinates of point A0; set the

instrument height only. (Set the prism height to
0).

Result:
The coordinates or distance to the center of a point that is completely/partially blocked or has an
obstruction preventing the reflecting to be placed at the desired point can be solved by a very
convenient method of measuring another point with a particular angle offset value to the desired
point. The instrument shall display measured data of the desired point as a result.